University of Georgia Staff Council

Minutes of the June 5, 2002 Staff Council Meeting

Staff Council President Brenda Keen called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m.

Melanie Andrews called the roll and it was determined that a quorum was in attendance.

The following representatives were present:

• Academic Affairs:Annette Hatton, Margaret Stefan
• Agricultural and Environmental Sciences: Laura Alfonso, Lucy Brooks (for Joan Boalch), Greg Durham, Bryce Nelson (for Sandra McPeake), Patricia Smith, David Jennings
• Arts and Sciences: Robyn Ansley, Larry Peter
• Education: Sandy Smith
• External Affairs: Bonnie Norwood
• Finance and Administration: Julio Canseco (for Henry Bridges), Brian Davis (for Tonya Carter), Michael Maravek (for William Childs), Kathy Hines, Tommy McCommons, Jeff Wilkerson (for Frank Patman)
• Forest Resources: Mary Ann McGuire (for Bob Ratajczak)
• Law School: Joe Johnson
• Legal Affairs, etc.: Toni Stone
• Pharmacy: Stephanie Borrett
• Public Service and Outreach: George Russell (for Paul Farr), Tameka Allison
• Research Services: Beverly Chalk, Donna Huber
• Social Work: Barbara Galvond
• Student Affairs: Nancy Ferguson, Maureen Hetrick
• Terry College of Business: Elizabeth Pape
• Veterinary Medicine: Tony Hughey
• Recording Secretary: Carol Bishop
• Coordinator: Melanie Andrews
• President: Brenda Keen
• Parliamentarian and Representative to USG-SC: Margot Peter

The following representatives were not present:

• Environmental Design: Marsha Grizzle
• Family and Consumer Sciences: Vici Decker
• Finance and Administration: Tom Kopp, Joel Sorrow
• Journalism and Mass Communication: Danna Williams
• Immediate Past President: Sarah Fraker

The minutes for May 1, 2002 were approved.

*Certificates of Appreciation were handed out to 2001/02 Staff Council representatives and representatives for 2002/03 were announced.

*Tony Hughey was elected President and Sandy Smith Vice President of the UGA Staff Council for 2002/03. Additional officers for the upcoming year will be Melanie Andrews as Coordinator and Bonnie Norwood as Recording Secretary.

*Communications Committee: Maureen Hetrick reminded people that the committee’s newsletter, "The Staff Voice", may be viewed online through the Staff Council’s website. Hardcopies are available to anyone who is not web-accessible.

*Health and Safety Committee: Brenda read the Health and Safety Committee’s annual report. Over the past year the committee has addressed a number of issues. Among these have been: 1. Pedestrian safety issues. 2. Better information about bus schedules and routes. 3. Increasing awareness about and the repair of poorly lit outdoor areas around UGA. 4.Insecure UGA website issues. 5. Whether the University Press building might be a "sick" building. 6.The possibility of fuel leaking into the water table near the Physical Plant. 7. Many employees concern over general emergency and evacuation procedures for campus buildings.

Due to family and professional obligations Allison will no longer be returning as a staff representative for the 2002/03 year.

*Needs and Concerns Committee: In Bob Ratajczak’s absence Mary Ann McGuire read the Needs and Concerns Committee’s annual report. Parking concerns were the committee’s chief concern during the past year. The committee solicited imput from UGA staff to put together a report for Parking Services. They also worked on the development of a car pool program for UGA faculty and staff. Once the new parking plan was released the emphasis of the committee shifted totally to parking issues and Bob attended the Parking Task Force meetings.

Bob sees the role of the Parking Task Force as one designed to help define ways to implement the parking plan. He has worked to insure that staff have first priority for lower cost lots. Additionally Bob, in cooperation with others, worked on an alternative transportation plan that would facilitate, reward, and be flexible for its users. He also encourages feedback from staff who experience "handicapped parking" related problems.

Non-Parking issues addressed by the committee were: 1. Day Care. 2. Campus Mail policies about delivering "personal" mail. 3. Campus recycling of cardboard.

*UGARA: Kathy Hines attended the May meeting and noted the group wishes to have continuing staff representation.

*Executive Committee: Brenda Keen said that next year the committee will need to work on its bylaws. Brenda attended the ice cream social the previous Tuesday at Herty Field and met the new Chancellor. Brenda also noted that the Executive Committee’s meeting on Monday with President Adams was positive. During the meeting it was brought up that there is no Georgia law which prohibits the state from funding campus parking. Also discussed was the possibility of allowing staff to ride city buses.

*Old Business: None.

*New Business: The outgoing chair of the University Faculty Council’s Executive Committee, Chris Langone, forwarded a letter to Brenda discussing the committee’s interest in addressing domestic partner benefits at UGA. Brenda sent a letter to the group noting her concerns about the proposal and her decision not to forward it to staff council. Brenda says that Staff Council may still address the issue if they wish.

*Guest Speakers: Joyce Hardman, the Director of Parking and Transportation, and Ron Hamlin from the Campus Transit System were guest speakers. Joyce Hardman said to look on the Parking Website under "What’s New" beginning next week for updates on campus parking. Joyce has been working closely with the UGA architects to make sure that parking lots stay accessible during all the construction taking place on campus. Ron Hamlin said that city transit may be free to staff in the fall. Ron stated that parking and transportation issues will probably be more important to staff over the next year and he asks people contact him with questions by either email, phone, or through the Campus Transit Webpage. As of the first of May, 9,000 people have submitted their parking requests and Joyce believes that the majority of faculty/staff will get their 1st or 2nd choice.

*The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 p.m.

Respectively submitted by Carol Bishop, Recording Secretary 2001/02, August 7, 2002.